Gregg Marshall says top ranking 'a carrot' for No. 2 Wichita State

Wichita State coach Gregg Marshall says being No. 1 is a goal for the Shockers.

Gregg Marshall has no problem with Florida being ranked as the nation’s No. 1 team.

The Wichita State coach also has no problem using the Gators’ top ranking to his own benefit.

“Florida is an outstanding team,” Marshall told The Associated Press on Monday, when his unbeaten Shockers were ranked second in the AP Top 25. “I’ve watched them. I really think they’re good. There’s a lot of good teams out there. But I just think this continues to be a carrot for our team. It continues to be a goal, and it’s a very lofty goal, and it’s something to strive for.”

The Gators (25-2) moved up one place Monday, replacing Syracuse (25-2), which lost twice last week and dropped to fourth. Wichita State (29-0) and Arizona (25-2) both moved up one place to second and third, and Kansas (21-6) jumped three spots to No. 5.

The Shockers received 14 of the 65 first-place votes, while Florida was first on 47 ballots.

The results were similar in the USA Today coaches poll as Florida, Wichita State and Arizona occupied the top three spots. The coaches ranked Louisville (23-4) fourth, followed by Syracuse and KU.

Kansas State (18-9) also received votes in the coaches poll.

Florida is the fifth school to hold the AP’s No. 1 spot this season. Coach Billy Donovan called the rankings a revolving door before his Gators took over the top spot, and he said being No. 1 is an honor and compliment.

But to Donovan, a lot of teams could be considered the nation’s best right now with Wichita State having a strong argument.

“It’s not like all of a sudden Florida is No. 1 or you get a ranking and we’re the best team in the country,” Donovan said. “We’ve been given a number, and that’s about the extent of it.”

These Gators, on top of the rankings for the first time since they repeated as national champions in 2007, have won a school-record 19 straight games coming off a 75-71 win at Mississippi where they shut down Marshall Henderson in the second half. They can clinch at least a share of the Southeastern Conference title on Tuesday night with a win at Vanderbilt before having a chance to wrap up the championship against LSU on Saturday.

Duke, Louisville, Villanova, Creighton and Saint Louis rounded out the AP’s top 10. North Carolina, SMU and New Mexico all returned to the Top 25 this week, replacing Connecticut, UCLA and Gonzaga.